Forgotten Adventuring Gear: The NEW Invented Haversack 

Looking like a ranger from rohan now and im totally here for it

Doing pre1840 primitive camping for almost 40 years, i have produced numerous packs over the years, and have seen even more. I will say that the viewer that graciously gifted you this has been very generous with an apex-level, professional quality item. Directly historically accurate. Perfectly reinforced. Some tips from experience. I hope you don't mind. Place softer items like extra pair of socks, food, etc., against your body in the main compartment. The outer flap should hold harder, irregular items such as messkit, etc, Place as many items as possible in smaller cloth bags using personal logic. I have sewing kit, leather whangs/thongs, etc., in one bag. All food in another. IFAK (modern) in another. Water purification system in another, etc. This keeps your pack much tidier when searching for something. It prevents smaller do dads from getting lost, and if you use different fabrics, closures, sizes, etc., you can easily identify things in the dark. Always try to carry loads higher on your body over your center of balance. Low-slung loads, although "cool" looking in the living room, after 1 mile of walking uneven ground and bouncing against you every step will beat you to exhaustion. Secure your loads higher. Eliminate gravity trying to pull you over with an improperly slung load. Kit up and try running through branches, crawling (uphill and down), doing somersaults, etc. If after every movement you can go to standing without having to readjust, you're getting it. Use your main pack for once a day access. Bedroll, messkit, etc. Use a smaller bag for throughout the day. Snack, toilet paper, dry tinder finds, etc. Nobody wants to wait for the guy that has to unpack his entire camp everytime you break for five minutes. Distribute as much weight as possible from your center. Don't sling packs and bedrolls from one shoulder. Use nice wide straps over both shoulders and across the upper chest, or if using a backpack style, tie the two straps together across your chest with a short tie. We always take too much. If you haven't used an item the last three times out, time to rethink it. Let your clothes absorb smoke. It will cut down on BO, protect them, act as bug repellent and allow you to better assimilate into the woods.

When this dude gets called a larper he takes it as a compliment. An absolute legend.

There are tons of great ideas here, many of which I shall steal. But one quibble, wooden frame backpack systems -- notably square and triangular frames made of hewn branches -- have unbroken use, worldwide, clear back to prehistory. They may not have been in fashion or of particular note at any one time or another, but peasantry have always known how to gather sticks and tie them together, since forever.

The guess how its made from this footage bit shows you know your audience. And if it weren't for family coming over in an hour, I'd be making one now.

It essentially looks like a pillow case that has been repurposed. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It looks really good!

Yours is so much better engineered than the extents & military documentation we have to study from the Rev War. Their flaps only reached about halfway down the bag portion, were secured with 2 buttons, and had no extra pocket within the flap. I like yours better!

When you said that it was used to carry oats, i had to think of the danish word for oats; havre. But mostly pronunced haver... also greetings from Denmark. Happy holidays everyone 🙂

I seem to recall in another video I commented that my DM was a stickler about how encumbered we were. That included how we wore things as well as how bulky and heavy things were. A solution we came up with concerning how we wore knapsacks and cloaks at the same time was that we'd first put on the pack and then don the cloak over it and our bodies, the assumption being that travel cloaks were larger than the standard and were similar to ancient Roman "soldier" cloaks, or paenula.

Ima Bushcraft / outdoor guy, and i love haversacks they are amazing.

i cannot believe it, but i have already made one of these. i even conceptualised it myself, i made it a year ago without any input - goes to show that this is a good product, that it's been invented multiple times!

its amazing how you can still see the design of a flap with pocket that can strap stuff to the top of your bag in many modern backpacking bags. It really is still one of the best ways to organize your gear.

Awesome bag! I'd love to hear you talk more about the different types of kit you mentioned. Breaking things down into categories always helps me to get a better picture of how things fit together.

Good to see ya back, mate!

I'm a long-time shoestring-budget doomsday prepper, and let me just give you a mountain of praise along the following key veins: I'm prepping for, among other things, any number of sources of a continental / global EMP event that perma-kills all modern tech and much if not all modern civilization along with it. And as such, this is projected to retro-rocket whoever survives among us back to anything from the old west clear back to prehistoric caveman times. This is right up my alley because, as per my individual interest in the medieval times of my own predominantly German heritage, I actively train in mid-13th through early 15th century German medieval melee weapons combat and German medieval knightly wrestling (known as 'Ringenkunst,' or just Ringen for short). This part also ties into my prepping because when everyone runs out of ammo in the post-SHTF world to come (note that there is already a widespread and steadily increasing ammo shortage as per the US sending load after load of our ammo to Ukraine and Israel), anyone with the will to defend themselves against looters and the like actually likely will be going medieval with their personal arms and their prepper fortresses. But more than this, they'll be going medieval with oldschool hand-made wool clothing too, and so on. This is where my praise of you comes in for me: As per my solemn intent to be ready for that world after the societal collapse comes and subsides into the long-term SHTF age soon upon us all, I've been taking detailed notes and doing my own hand-drawn copy-offs of all your ideas for hand-made cloaks, LARP gear and so on so I can make my own survival gear in a world where there are no remaining modern industries to make modern stuff any longer. And so, even though you were never thinking along this vein in your adventure blogging here on your channel, the knowledge you purvey here just happens to benefit SHTF preppers like myself. Your innovations and historical knowledge have proven invaluable to the point of my having incorporated it all into my existing and now far more refined bug-out plan. And, since I do happen to have an avid interest in things Medieval German and generally olden times, it's a nice bonus that I can have fun with it by adding that medieval German (and in some cases vaguely fantasy LARP) flair to my overall prepping plan and lifestyle. My primary melee weapons of choice are the mid-14th to early-15th century longsword fighting doctrine of the German sword master Johannes Liechtenauer (his sword doctrine is taught in a lengthy poetic verse which is known as 'Zettel') and his early 15th century successor Sigmund Ringeck (who expanded upon the 'Zettel' later), and the 13th to 14th century medieval sword & buckler shield fighting doctrine of Hans Talhoffer. The historical 'Fechtbuk' (the German word for the phrase "Fight Book," which refers to any historical documents written and illustrated to teach any number of medieval fighting techniques and systems) which instructs this doctrine, is cataloged in museums as historical document "I-33". Therefore I can say that seeing your videos on things like how to best carry a longsword safely over distance, as well as your video on exploring dodge rolls in combat, have all given me vital knowledge I now include as standard-feature required learning in my bug out planning and my last-ditch melee weapons fight training regimen here at home. Both, being absolutely vital for if I have to fight my way out of town on foot and brave the elements in the surrounding open countryside when SHTF happens. Anyway, I say unto you good sir: Please keep up the good work, thank you for your knowledge and contributions to the common good, and I will continue to study and incorporate your various bodies of adventurer's knowledge into my prepping until the time comes to put it all to life-saving practical use. BE WELL, SIR!

I like that you said something about collecting firewood because if you kept the cloak/ blanket out it looks like a great firewood carrying bag that can be strapped to your shoulder in case you’re having to venture a little farther from the fire site to collect wood then what would be comfortable carrying the wood back by just a hand strap

Kramer, great job on the vid, nice bag. I just built a similar bag for myself to go under a cloak. More based on the 17c Highlander gear from Tom @FandabiDozi. To wear as a backpack: 1) bag in front of you (soft side away from you) loop strap across your back under your arms. 2) flip bag over your head and settle straps on your shoulders. 3) using either the end of your adjustable strap or a spare piece of cordage tie the straps together in front of you. I find it better to put the cross strap on my lower ribcage but I have a really bad back between my shoulder blades. I believe you've said it before (May have been Tom, both of you have influenced my medieval/fantasy kit!!) but a pannier is a medieval 'backpack'. A wicker basket with rope or leather straps. Though I find it hard to believe that no-one thought of making it out of linen or sailcloth before the mid 19thc! Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Side note, I made mine out of a pair of canvas pants!

That's so compact! Now I kinda wish I... hadersack. :D New camera looking good, btw!

Hey, I just wanted to say im loving this forgotten adventuring gear series! Im planning on going on an extended motorcycle tour and this series have given me many ideas on different items to bring and how to best use what I got. Thanks!

It's funny. All of the times in fantasy books and audiobooks that I've read or heard the word 'haversack', I'm not quite sure what it was I was picturing but this is far better and more useful than I would have imagined. Great video and keep up the good work!

Something else that I think is overlooked, plus it means you could also carry a spear more naturally, is using a long stick (or spear) with the bag at the end and you use your shoulder as leverage to elevate the bag, which means is then rather easy to just drop it and be "ready", but Ive tried it and is not unconfortable once you get used to shuffle the weight

One change I’d make (and have to mine) is to just use a loose strap instead of sewing it into the bag and folding the bag over the belt. Then you get more versatility with the strap and it’s very durable. But you do have to pack the bag fully to make it lay correctly

Dude! Straight off the bat, the camera quality is 📈 Great video, answered a few questions I had for my own kit.

I had never thought about incorporating 1st/2nd/3rd line gear principles into fantasy kit!

More of the oddly specific niche content that I've been obsessed with lately 🍻

That's actually amazing. I think I need to make one of those. Also, you look very natural in your gear. That's something I need to work on. If I wear even half that gear I feel clumsy.

I watch this video I watched this video last night, and so, this afternoon I have a similar bag sewn by my hands from nothing! Thank you for showing me such an interesting way of storing my things!

I saw something like the Haversack in a Thrift Shop recently. Had all the things you talked about however it was hippy. All the colors and piece signs.

Merry Christmas. Thanks for the upload. I might actually do this one.

You were one good slap away from the car salesman meme. I'll probably end up having to make one for myself. One modification I can see my self adding, is an extra pocket on the outside.

Very cool rig, fits a lot of options into a simple, clean package. I've been thinking a lot about the usefulness of "versatility" and "modularity" for fantasy adventurers, and this is good inspiration for some designs (mostly drawn--I'm no good with leather and textiles). Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone 🎄🎁

i used to tie my quiver to my knapsack, so the whole thing came off in one piece, i also had an overbelt that kept my knapsack from moving arounf, and the bottom of the quiver tied to this... also cloak wrapped up in a roll and attached to teh strap at the back, and the axe slotted in next to this, all one bundle

Honestly, I have no idea how or why the algorithm recommended this video/channel, but I’m glad it did! Your whole look/outfit is awesome!

Technically, backpacks date back to the Stone Age! However, they looked nothing like your school rucksack or the 19th-century leather backpack... The closest form to what they carried back then that still exists today is what you see the Nepalese mountaineers use. In short, it's a wooden frame with belts and occasionally a plate at the bottom, and everything else gets tied to it. It's very inconvenient to quickly get a specific item out, but the advantage is that it can carry pretty much anything irrespective of the volume and shape and it can carry superheavy stuff OSHA/HSE wouldn't want you carrying today... They were super-popular among travelling merchants. Some might even carry an entire set of drawers on their back or multiple boxes making the merchant look comically small compared to his cargo

It's good to see others finding the haversack a good option

I don’t have any gear or any cool clothes, but I love bushcraft and changing my vocabulary to that of a wizard when I’m talking with my friends 😂

was good to see you with Shad and crew, I hope that brought you a bunch more subscribers, love your stuff and I hope you grow well.

That looks just ingenious. Now I want one too! And your new camera seems to work flawlesly!

I learn something new everytime. ❤

Your new haversack with the blanket is wonderful!! A great piece. I could swing it to side, front & back. & yes, hatchet. Thanks for showing it. 😊

Impressively innovative. You just gave me the inspiration to try custom bags

Love it, I have never seen anything like it before.❤

Thank You for sharing. I had never seen this version of a haversack & right up my alley.

Awesome and informative vid Kramer thank you so much.

Market sack haversack combo is a great idea. I have seen modern ones using the flap by adding zippers. The more ideal part of this is you can drop it in a hurry. A napsack or a ruck is not as easy.

Obligatory first, also is this using your new camera the quality looks INCREDIBLE!

Side-bags are often condemned by chiropractors for distributing weight unevenly, but you touched on an important point: it needn't be one's only bag. Postmen today still use a double haversack (one on each hip) for carrying the not-insignificant weight of their deliveries over multiple miles. I've also heard it said that the Canadian voyageurs used this sort of "double-side carry" arrangement for moving bales of furs from one lake to another. They were expected to carry two bales, at 80-90 pounds (40 kg) each in addition to their canoe and personal goods. Some carried four or five. I won't be trading my knapsack for haversacks for long hikes anytime soon (coats make backpacks far more practical in our day) - but they definitely have their merit, and I love them for fantasy gear! PS: Tumplines are great carry-options too!

Thank you for the video and merry Christmas!

Overall I do like it. The only thing I do not like about shoulder bags is they do not evenly distribute weight and eventually you will want to switch which shoulder it is on or switch to something like a backpack.

This looks like my bike saddle bags I had back in the 90s when I was in college, and my only way of getting around a transit-poor city was my bike. I fitted my entire book kit (no ebooks for us back then, and the laptops that would have supported them were just as burdensome as the paper) on the bike rack, and once indoors in winter, I'd roll my outer gear and nylon rain shells between them, buckle the bottom bike frame straps together, and knotted my shell sleeves to make my shoulder strap. In more clement weather, I'd just sling the bags over my shoulder. I knew it couldn't have been a new idea.

Also for practicality the haversack is for ease of access things you need or Want to get to with having to dig in a large back bag, or even have to remove your back bag. You can also swing it away and behind and drip it very quickly for breaks or camp.

I hope you and your wife have a happy holiday on Monday, Kramer.

Brilliant! having the axe on the haversack is ideal you could even put other attachements there

The haversack looks lovely for a day of hiking a sword fighting in Sherwood forest.

Cool haversak, loved to see @skilltree make a fantasy version.

I could totally see putting some sort of beeswax or other to waterproof it too! What a handy design! I might want to make this eventually...

Thank you for this video. Fascinating piece of kit! Subscribed.

As a reenactor for the past 20 years (and actual soldier for 6 years) you need to paint the outside of the bag, or at the very least treat the putside with a mixture of olive oil, beeswax and animal lard. Nothing sucks worse than wet gear.

Great job on the presentation, and quite informative.

Good episode. This channel is a bit inconsistent, but when its good, its really good. More episodes like this. and yes I know you have been busy with your wedding. Congratulations. Here is to more consistency and more great episodes like this one in 2024. Cheers.

Greetings!

Bushcrafter here. This looks perfect for an overnight camp bag. I have a haversack I made with canvas that holds my cook kit etc. I also take a polish lavu that I hang over the top. This looks perfect to fit my lavu and a wool blanket in and keep it nice and strapped down! Great piece of kit!

When folded, it creates a spine which can be made rigid by creating a special pocket to store the knife and sheath.

If that shoulder strap was long enough, that haver sack could also be used like a trump line portage pack... where the guy had the load on his back and strap across forhead and walked leaned forward. you can see images of this in old canoeing art. often used for carrying sacks of flour etc. And Trump lines were made with a forhead pad and long tails for generalized uses. i.e. to carry anything, from a sailors trunk, to a cask etc.

Beautifully crafted video Kramer! Love the new camera quality. I like the versatility of the 18th century bag.

I really like this breakdown. Thanks man

Hello, just a little sidenode to the word Haver, the german word for Oats is Hafer, the dutch word for oats is Haver. Another comment already mentioned the similarity to the danish word for oats. So it could be that the oat cake (Havercake) originates from Danish, German or Dutch emigrants who may have sold this cake frequently or used it as a travelling snack. I always find it fascinating how different words from other languages have found their way into American life The haversack really makes a great impression, thanks for sharing, I think I will really try to make a haversack

Thank you, Jennifer

love the idea of the different kits

I'm currently outlining a new story, and this was super helpful in figuring out some of the logistics, thanks!

PHENOMENAL content as always - really enjoyed it! I know it's extra gear, but if you were to do a video showing some footage of you camping, those are always great!

On the subject of carrying enough gear you need, I’d love to hear your thoughts on hygiene on the road for an adventure. Or keeping clothes clean. Soap obvs would be something you carry. But what about hair care (you have especially great hair and I think could give tips for other men and women with long care hair in the field) or skin care. There are natural soaps that can be used on hair and body to save space, but some people have skin conditions where keeping it healthy during travel and adventure can be tricky. But stuff like eczema wouldn’t be a deal breaker, just something that you have to account for, and bring extra things for (which is the tricky part, because you don’t want to being bringing a whole alchemy set). For a modern example, I’ve spent months in the field due to the army training, and also have mild on/off eczema. Hygiene is important, but we often only got to shower every two weeks or so. In 100F humid weather, wearing the same uniform for days, staying clean and avoiding heat rash or yeast infections or UTIs (for those prone them) was important. So people would use baby wipes once or twice a day. And use wet weather bags or field laundry bags with soap and switch out with a spare uniform every few days (there were portable water tank stations in the training area where people would collect water). For eczema, humid air actually helped keep the skin moisturized so a lotion was all I needed. But other environments where it’s been more arid has been tricker

8:48 the us army does using this idea in the 'assault pack', Designed a hold 48 hours worth of equipment and ammunition, That's separate from the actual ruck sack

Thanks for the video

Right! Looks like it would go well with the Great Kilt. Thanks!

I have a laptop bag that's actually really similar in that the flap is the entire width and closes with adjustable buckles. I have never considered putting my jackets in there though. I really should. (it is, however, entirely polyester. at least there's no fake leather!)

That's an awesome looking bag! The construction and functionality of it seems to be very good!

Love the concept and execution but I'll stick to my great kilt with buckled messenger bag over my garb That's my personal opinion but I recommend that people make their own decisions Love your videos as always Kramer and will share it around the group as always

I love the style of this sack

Nice. I use a haversack now and a belt kit for all my hiking and bushcraft outings. You can do so much more sometimes with less. I included a loop hanger for a tomahawk on my bag and the inside covers a bit of food water and shelter. The shoulder strap could easily stow a blanket or cloak, and I wear it with my middle earth quiver when go scouting for deer season

I love this channel, love you seeing you at Shads and skilltree as well!!!!!

Video blew the Etymologe section of my mind (Hafersack in German -> a bag of oats)

Great piece of kit Kramer and yes it looks easy enough to make. Might have to give it a go. I do like the extra long straps and buckles. Also you can increase the length of the shoulders strap and transform it into a backpack for a different carry option. Merry Christmas to you and yours Nate

Some of us do not have the time or skill. I hope Jennifer is ready to get to work 😀

Ah, very nice tool! That's exactly the sort of thing I'm likely to use. I like that. Good video!

Interesting bit of kit. Fits the ranger motif. 😎

I like it. Thank you for the video, brother

less a 'haversack' more a 'have-it-all' pack!! very neat!! diggin the needs wallet incorporation!!

I’ve had one for years from doing 18th century reenacting, but it never occurred to me to use it for rangering. I really like the idea of hanging the hawk from the strap in that position, too. Thank you for new ideas.

Commenting for the algorithm, also, first I believe.

The longest (and best) infomercial in history.

This got me thinking... Haver - In Swedish oats are known as Havre and pack such as a backpack is ryggsäck. Havresäck - Haversack

You could even wrap a bear-resistant food canister inside. If you wanted to conceal it for appearances, just wrap it in a cloak/blanket snd then put it in the straps.

without the cloak i could see that being able to carry a decent amount of firewood or game animals too

The "need wallet" was also called a "market wallet" in the period. :)

I want to build something like this, but based more off of a martebo sack (equal-sized pockets on both sides with a central access slit) to double capacity

This video is the kind of early christmas present i really wanted. Hope everyone will have a happy holiday 🎄

burgschneider i saw around for about 2 years or so. the bags are excellent. never bought the backpacks but this is the first time i have seen it being used.

Great idea

Long strap on the flap to hold a blanket/cloak is how I wanted my leather messenger bag to work, but I only put one strap on, so a blanket or whatever tends to try to escape and I just don't bother now. I've seen the basic need wallet thing before, but I never considered making a bag from it. Guess who's making another bag at some point.